News for Restaurants in Chicago July 2011 Archive

Read about the openings, closings, chef shuffle, and special events in Chicago here. Gayot's Restaurant News has the information you want on the local restaurants in Chicago.

CHICAGO RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

Chicago has more than its share of steakhouses, but Dallas-based III Forks plans to add a link to the chain, serving Prime, wet-aged beef and seafood in a clubby setting. Differentiating it will be special treatments for kids. III Forks, 333 E. Benton Pl., Chicago, IL 60601, phone not available.

Mark Mendez (ex-Carnivale) is readying himself to open Uva, a boutique Spanish wine bar, sometime this fall with his wife as the sommelier. Uva, 1023 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60607, phone not available.

A Fresh Face Shoppers are about to get a big change when on-the-fly Foodlife at Water Tower Place turns into Foodease Market this fall. It'll feature an Alpana Singh-curated wine list at its vino bar as well as fancy chocolates from small producers. Foodlife, Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-335-3663.

New Cocktail Lounge R.J. and Jerrod Melman's popular Paris Club is now augmented by Studio Paris, an upstairs cocktail lounge with indoor and outdoor seating, a retractable roof and dishes that include classic steak tartare and hamachi with crispy shallots. Paris Club, 59 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60654, 312-595-0800.

Back on Track Although it closed for a spot, Francesca's Forno is back on the scene, and it's not named Panza as once suggested. The space received a quickie revamp, as did the menu, which emphasizes cured salumi and cheeses, small plates, salads, pizza and pasta. Dishes to look to include spaghetti with wild mushrooms, mascarpone, marjoram, brandy-veal sauce and white truffle oil, and a baked soft hen egg with pomodoro and guanciale. Francesca's Forno, 1576 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622, 773-770-0184.